A girl hung a wooden votive tablet after writing her wishes at Yushima Tenjin shrine in Tokyo on Sunday. Many students and parents visited Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in Japan to pray for success in the country's school entrance examinations.

A girl hung a wooden votive tablet after writing her wishes at Yushima Tenjin shrine in Tokyo on Sunday. Many students and parents visited Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in Japan to pray for success in the country's school entrance examinations.

Attendants participated in a disaster drill conducted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government at City Hall on Friday. The drill was jointly held with railway operators and other private firms in areas where Tokyo's three major train stations are located.

Attendants participated in a disaster drill conducted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government at City Hall on Friday. The drill was jointly held with railway operators and other private firms in areas where Tokyo's three major train stations are located.

Japanese families celebrated a traditional bean-throwing ceremony called Setsubun in Chiba prefecture on Friday. Householders throw beans out the doors and windows of homes to chase away evil from the previous year.

Japanese families celebrated a traditional bean-throwing ceremony called Setsubun in Chiba prefecture on Friday. Householders throw beans out the doors and windows of homes to chase away evil from the previous year.